John Locke's "blank slate" is imbued in the philosophy of our Declaration of Independence; all of us are free to define the content of our character.

Roy Nickerson Mount Dora

Religious freedom lets all practice in peace

Since we live in America, and we do have freedom of religion, why are atheists and agnostics trying to put a stop to the Texas governor's day of fasting and prayer in August?

Atheism is its followers' religion. This religion is that its followers do not believe in God. They are free to express their religious beliefs without any interference from Christians or Jews. Why can't they allow Christians to have their freedom, just as we allow them to have theirs?

The newspaper needs a column on nutrition. It would be a public service to get people hooked on good nutrition.

Kathy Kennedy Orlando

Appeals court allays Obamacare concerns

In her Monday My Word column, "State doesn't need grant," Republican State Rep. Denise Grimsley demonstrated that she was either uninformed, or that she was ignoring the facts. She submits as her basis for opposing health-care grants that President Obama's health-care legislation has been ruled unconstitutional.

If she had done her homework, she would have learned that as recently as June 29, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that her so-called Obamacare was constitutional for all purposes. This confirms the axiom that it's simple to find problems, but that it takes intelligence and informed effort to find solutions.

Robert F. Evans Jr. Orlando

Demings' new career

Former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings is running for Congress from Florida.

She said she had worked her whole life in government jobs. It's time she got out of government service and worked in the private sector. The last thing Florida and America need is another career politician.

James Yanik Casselberry

Irony of women's soccer

George Díaz's column Thursday ("Women give U.S. soccer an exciting but fleeting ride") mentions that the U.S. women's exciting advance to the World Cup finals — the first chance at a title since 1999 — has resulted in a "soccer revolution," which is good because the sport needs more exposure in the U.S.

It's ironic that this still doesn't make it worthy of a photo on the front sports page. Instead, a large color photo of a minor-league baseball manager warrants that spot.

Gee, I wonder why soccer — or women's sports in general — isn't more popular here?

Rose Powell Altamonte Springs

Making the deadline

Hopefully, an agreement can be reached with President Obama and Congress. If not, why penalize retired people who draw Social Security benefits? These retirees will be innocent victims.

Instead, let's withhold salaries, expense accounts and all other benefits from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of our government. Do you think there would be an agreement before the Aug. 2 deadline?

That should be a no-brainer.

Jim McCabe Leesburg

Taxing problem

I've read that 90 percent of the money in the U.S. is being held by 10 percent of the people. The 10 percent are the ones getting the biggest break in taxes.

The Republicans say this is the way it should be because they are the ones who are creating the jobs we all need. They have been getting these tax breaks for quite a few years now. Where are the jobs ?

I'll tell you. They have gone overseas. Asia is doing great. Seems like everything we buy at Wal-Mart comes from there. Textile mills are in Latin America. Big business will go anywhere to get cheap labor. The fact that they are putting Americans out on the street means nothing to them. That's just the price of doing business.

Someday when a great percentage of the people are on welfare and we can't afford to buy all this stuff being made overseas, maybe then someone will decide it was a mistake.

Maybe when everyone will work for minimum wage, the jobs will come back.